Thread: Winter safety

I can second that. Waders are great winter gear for fishing. Plus, you can go to bass pro outlet and get a pair for $50-$100 a lot of days and they are water proof up to your chest and like south point said they are wind proof and warm. I have a pair of 600 gram thinsulate boots on mine and have dry land hunted mallards and geese in single digits and wind with layers on and stayed comfortable.

Originally Posted by south point

sometimes in winter my boat will freeze to my trailer. you will know when it does if you watch closly when you back the boat in the water and you don't see the rear of the boat float up when it normaly does. to unfreeze it, just back your trailer in until the bottom bunks are under water. then let it sit there a minute and the ice will thaw, freeing your boat. my boat will actually float the trailer for a few seconds, I know when it thaws because I can feel the trailer fall and hit the concrete. don't try to use your outboard to free the boat from the trailer because it can tear the carpet off your bunkboards.
also, to help keep warm and dry, I wear my neoprene waders when I winter fish. totally blocks wind and water. for running a full faced motorcycle helmet is great, but I must look like a moron. spare, dry cloths are a must as are pfd's.
my boat doesn't have carpet, it has a rubberized coating and it freezes fast. you have to be real careful not to slip. when it gets real bad, I just fill a bucket up with river water and pour it over my floor. it will help for a half hour or so. (better have a reliable bilge!)
I am a cheapskate so i don't use ice melt, i just keep a few folgers cans filled with OLD, COLD ashes from my wood stove. they give good traction on ice.if it is snowy that is another story. don't forget a snowshovel in case you need to clear some tire paths.

All good tips guys, thanks! This will be my first year of winter fishing, so this is a very timely thread. I appreciate this kind of help as much as the help I get with my fishing!

great post beagle! thanks for the reminder'sThumbs Up